EYE CASES

The same laws apply to Ophthalmologists as to other medical practitioners. Typical negligence cases involve:

* Laser eye treatment for the correction of long- or short-sightedness

* Cataract surgery

* Failure to detect and treat foreign bodies

* Delay in the diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma

* Delay in the diagnosis and treatment of retinal tears and retinal detachments

AN OPTHALMOLOGY CASE SUCCESS STORY

Mrs Y developed a painful sore red eye. Her GP suspected an infection and gave her antibiotic drops. These didn't improve the condition. She went back to see the GP three more times before finally a referral was made to an ophthalmic surgeon. The surgeon diagnosed glaucoma and provided urgent treatment despite which Mrs Y lost the sight in her eye.

Legal Aid was granted and an expert in general practice confirmed that an urgent referral to hospital should have been made at first presentation to the GP. An ophthalmic surgeon confirmed that an earlier referral would have saved lots of avoidable pain and distress and would have enabled the surgeon to have salvaged at least some of the sight in Mrs Y's eye.

The case had to be started in Court. Witness statements were exchanged and the Defence then agreed to settle the claim. Mrs Y felt vindicated and hoped that medical lessons would be learnt from her own unhappy experiences.